Masonboro Organization

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Masonboro Organization, also known as masonboro.org, is a US nonprofit based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Its mission is to protect public access, promote responsible use, and preserve traditions of Masonboro Island—surfing, camping, fishing, boating, paddle boarding—open to the public. It was co-founded in 2009 by Richard Johnson, Jack Kilbourne, Neal and Beth Andrew.

Masonboro Organization History

The organization was started in 2009 as a result of annual July 4th celebrations on Masonboro Island that drew large crowds, partygoers, and boaters. Visitors left heaps of trash and garbage from partying that polluted the island. This prompted North Carolina State leaders and officials to question whether they should restrict public access to the island. That’s when Masonboro Organization stepped in with 75 “red shirt” volunteers generously donating their time to hand out free trash bags and encourage partygoers to properly dispose of their trash at home. In 2016, and in partnership with Waste Management, volunteers removed over 5,000 pounds of trash left on the island, ensuring it was in pristine condition by sunset, despite an estimated 2,300 visitors to the island on that day. In 2017, there was 3,500 pounds of trash, and in 2018, there was under 1,500 pounds of trash. After 7 years of the program and working closely with the New Hanover County Sheriff and North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission, the messaging “pack everything you packed in” was finally sticking with the public.

Masonboro Island Explorer (ILX) Program

In 2013, Masonboro.org developed the Masonboro Island Explorer (ILX) Program. ILX was created to develop future stewards of the North Carolina coastal islands, and in doing so, cultivate a lifelong interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). The long-term goal of the program is to continue to provide all 5th grade students enrolled in New Hanover County Public Schools with the opportunity to explore and understand the diverse ecosystems of Masonboro Island and its surrounding waters, and to foster an interest in the ecology of the barrier islands. In October 2013, Masonboro.org launched its first pilot program with approximately 50 fifth graders from Wrightsville Beach Elementary School. In the Spring of 2014, over 150 students and teachers participated in the ILX program. This was accomplished by partnering with the NC Coastal Reserve to further develop the curriculum to meet the standards and objectives of the New Hanover County’s Sea Scholar program. The success and feedback from its first year encouraged them to expand the program. During the 2014/15 school year, over 350 fifth graders from Gregory, Sunset Park, College Park, and Bradley Creek Elementary schools had a chance to go to Masonboro Island through the ILX program. In 2015, with the financial assistance of the Duke Energy Foundation, Landfall Foundation, and dozens of local sponsors, the program grew to over 600 students. In order to accommodate the growth, Carolina Ocean Studies was chosen to provide transportation and educational services.

COVID-19 Impact

In 2020, COVID-19 impacted the organization, but what most people don’t know is that right before COVID-19 hit, the organization lost the boat they had been using for transporting NHCS students to the island. After 40 plus years, the Winner family retired and sold all of their boats. Even if COVID did not happen, the organization would have needed to suspend the program until a new suitable boat and operator could be found. Starting in February 2020, Board members started working to find a replacement vessel. During the search in March of 2020, they started talking to YMCA Camp Sea Gull. After more than a year of discussions, talks with YMCA Camp Sea Gull led to the following conclusion. Anthony “Tony” Newberry (a boat captain with years of running charter trips, some time spent working for the Winner family, and currently has his own boating company—Island Cruises, Inc.) entered into a lease agreement with YMCA Camp Seagull for their passenger ferry “Joy Boy,” renamed “Island Explorer.”

Funding

Masonboro Organization draws all of its funding from sponsors and donors.

• Duke Energy that awarded a $50,000 Grant to ILX in 2019 and awarded $99,000+ since 2015.
• Waste Management Corporate Sponsor for the July 4th Clean-Up for 10+ years.
• Landfall Foundation $10,000 in grants for ILX since 2015.
• Eshelman Foundation awarded $10,000 to ILX in 2018.
• Bikecycles Sponsor

Board

Masonboro's Organization Board guides the organization. The Board, consisting of 13 Board Members, meets approximately eight times a year to discuss various topics including who is leading the 4th of July volunteer group, fundraisers, and media campaigns.

Editors of this page have relevant affiliation with the Masonboro Organization.

Reference and Media Section

1. Gregory, Donna (2021-06-25). "Local organization seeks volunteers, funding for Masonboro Island July 4 cleanup". WWAY TV. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
2. Bouchelle, Sydney (2021-06-21). "Masonboro.org seeking volunteers for annual July 4 clean-up". WWAY TV. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
3. Staton, John. "Police, clean-up crews gear up for return to a 'normal' year at Masonboro Island on July 4". Wilmington Star-News. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
4. Schachtman, Benjamin (2017-04-18). "To save Masonboro Island, this group is taking a whole generation to experience what it offers". Port City Daily. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
5. "» Increased Law Enforcement Crackdown on Fourth of July Rowdy Celebration on Masonboro Island". Retrieved 2021-07-15.
6. Staton, John. "Masonboro Island group to cut back July 4 clean-up crew". Havelock News. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
7. "Preparing for 10th year, Masonboro organization still seeking volunteers for cleanup". Lumina News. 2019-06-28. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
8. Masonboro.org. "Masonboro.org Teams with North Carolina Coastal Reserve to Mentor Future Stewards of the Carolina Coast". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
9. Staff, Compiled Cheryl Whitaker StarNews. "Fundraiser will benefit Masonboro Island". GoUpstate. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
10. "Local organization cleans up Masonboro Island following July 4 celebrations - Opera News". www.dailyadvent.com. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
11. "Masonboro Island in Search of Volunteers". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
12. "Star News: Landfall Foundation announces grants". Cape Fear Habitat For Humanity. 2017-11-04. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
13. illumination, Duke Energy |. "His passion helped save uninhabited barrier island". Duke Energy | illumination. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
14. Ingram, Hunter. "A guide to North Carolina nods in Netflix's 'Outer Banks'". Shelby Star. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
15. Company, Author: Seaview Crab. "Masonboro Sound & Island: Worth Protecting". Retrieved 2021-07-15.
16. "Masonboro.org Benefit & Party TOMORROW—5/31/18 @ Bradley Creek Marina 6-9PM |". Retrieved 2021-07-15.
17. "Volunteers Needed to Cleanup Masonboro Island for July 4th". www.ny1.com. Retrieved 2021-07-15.

External links section

http://masonboro.org

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